FAIRFIELD, Conn. Seven-time national champion David Metzbower has been named associate head coach and offensive coordinator of Fairfield University Men's Lacrosse. Metzbower joins the Stags following three seasons in the same role at the University of Denver and has also engineered the offenses at Princeton, Loyola, and North Carolina.
 
"I am thrilled to announce David Metzbower as our associate head coach and offensive coordinator. Dave is one of the elite coaches and leaders in the sport of lacrosse, and his track record of success speaks for itself," said Fairfield Head Coach John Odierna. "Throughout his career, he has established himself as an elite recruiter, an outstanding teacher of the game, and a mentor with an unwavering commitment to the holistic development of the student-athlete. As great of a coach he is, Dave is an even better person. His passion for developing young men make him a perfect fit for our program and culture. We are excited to welcome Coach Metzbower and his family to our program and the Fairfield community."
 
Metzbower's three-year tenure at Denver included a trip to Championship Weekend in 2024. It was the first Final Four trip for the Pioneers since 2017 and the 13th for Metzbower in his 37-year career.
 
Metzbower came to Denver from the University of North Carolina, where he served as offensive coordinator for nine seasons and was also the associate head coach of the Tar Heels for his last seven campaigns. He was named the USILA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2016 after helping guide UNC to the National Championship for the first time in 25 years. Metzbower was also on the sidelines in Chapel Hill for the Heels' 2017 ACC Tournament crown.
 
Prior to his time at UNC, Metzbower was the offensive coordinator at Loyola Maryland for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. The Greyhounds went 26-7 during that span, reached the NCAA Tournament in both campaigns, and won the Patriot League regular season and tournament titles in 2014. His stint in Baltimore marked a return to the collegiate ranks following time as an assistant coach at the Haverford School and two years as head coach at Malvern Prep.
 
Metzbower became a household name during a 20-year tenure at Princeton as the offensive mind alongside Head Coach Bill Tierney. In that span from 1990-2009, the Tigers won six national titles in 10 total trips to Championship Weekend and claimed 14 Ivy League titles.
 
As Princeton's offensive coordinator, Metzbower coached 22 All-Ivy attackmen including Lt. Col. J.L. Turnbull Award recipients Kevin Lowe (1994) and John Hess (1997) – presented to the nation's most outstanding attackman – and two-time winner of the Lt. j.g. Donald MacLaughlin Jr. Award Josh Sims (1998, 2000) as Division I's top midfielder.
 
At the time of his departure from Princeton, Metzbower had mentored the Tigers' top-five career goal scorers.
 
The 2009 IMLCA Assistant Coach of the Year, Metzbower also directed the Princeton goalkeepers. Scott Bacigalupo (1992-1994), Trevor Tierney (2001) and Alex Hewitt (2006) all earned national laurels as winners of the Ensign C. Markland Kelly Jr. Outstanding Goalie Award under his leadership. Bacigalupo was also recognized as the Lt. Raymond J. Enners Outstanding Player of the Year in 1994.
 
A 1986 graduate of the University of Delaware, Metzbower was a standout attackman for the Blue Hens. He also began his coaching career at Delaware under the tutelage of legendary Head Coach Bob Shillinglaw from 1987-89.
 
Metzbower will manage the offense for John Odierna, who was named the head coach of Fairfield Men's Lacrosse in June of 2026. Odierna most recently served as defensive coordinator at Syracuse University as has previously led the program at Manhattan.